If you follow me on snapchat and Instagram, you’ll know I’m currently headed to an ickle place called Reyhanli in the south of Turkey to do some volunteer work and help out with whatever really. From what I know and have seen/creeped, a majority of people in and around the area are victims of the Syrian crisis, potentially refugees, and there are loads of cute children whom I want to hug endlessly! *(you’ll more than likely get a more detailed description of what I’m doing once I get there!)

The organization itself is called ‘SKT welfare’ based in the UK and they operate on a 100% donation policy which I love love love. I went to uni for Intl. Development and loved every second of what I learned, but the hypocrisy of some NGO’s and charitable organizations who raise loads of money for those in need but fail to deliver it in its entirety is always mind boggling. (err Grenfell Tower, where’d it all go?) but anyways, I’m super excited and looking forward to have that ‘on-the-grounds’ experience and just share whatever I can offer to do my bit for humanity really. I wanted to go into development to save the world (so so naïve lol), and I remember feeling super overwhelmed one day after class and went to chat with my professor just kinda feeling defeated and hopeless in that nothings really going to save the world because it’s all been going on for such a long time lol. He gave me a much needed reality check and said something along the lines of it being impossible to save the world but each and every one of us has a human obligation to do whatever we can within our means to help. Be it for the environment, the well-being of others, sharing a freaking smile even. It’s like this unsaid obligatory price we pay for being a blady human citizen of this lovely world, and it makes sense to my heart x

I feel like this is turning into somewhat of a white savior complex thing, even though I’m not white, but Alhamdulillah times a million for everything I’ve been blessed with because in all honestly it’s definitely a privilege that many in the world don’t have. Not only me, but many of you reading this are also super privileged; you’ve got a roof over your head, food to eat, family, the opportunity to get an education, go to work and make money etc. etc. etc. and that’s so much more than some people. My morning has been a bit shitty and just all over the place so I was complaining to some friends and one of them goes Saira it’s okay, you’ll be okay, you’re blessed. You have a passport to come and go as you please, you have the chance to travel and come back to a job, you can afford the Starbucks you’re complaining about, so don’t worry lol and she’s so right Alhamdulillah! I know it’s natural to winge about stuff I suppose lol (I’m usually not a winge-er) but that got me feeling all kinds of ways about the word ‘alhamdulillah’ itself and what a freaking beauty it is in terms of reminding us to be ever grateful and thankful to God for all of it. The good, the not so good, the inconveniences or super special moments. It all happens for a reason and they’re all blessings on blessings based on this genuine faith in your heart that it’s what’s truly meant for you x

I’m staying for about a week-ish and the plan is to blog every evening about the day, bit of a travel journal if you will. I’ve never committed to a schedule like this for my posts haha but inshallah I’ll make the time! Currently in Istanbul with ages to go til my next flight and in need of water and a corner to sleep in so going to get on that.

Also, fyi for future plans to Turkey. If you need a visa (Canadians we do!), wallahi just have your cash exchanged beforehand to avoid the hassle of bank machines that don’t work, currency exchanges that are closed, unhelpful counter people etc etc etc lol $60USD or 50Euros. No Canadian dollars, and only British pounds if you’ve got a British passport lol dumbbbbbb (the only currencies I actually had on me..) and yes it’s possible for an ATM to run out of USD bills. Only use the e-visa machines on the ends if you’d prefer that route because the middle ones will have your transaction go through and completed only to freeze and restart minus a visa printout…(don’t worry mama I sorted it out) This isn’t my first time to Turkey (last years trip here) so I should know this, but alas.

If you’d like to make a donation to the organization or simply zakat to whoever might need, feel free to send me an email or message on Instagram and inshallah I’ll get it to whoever x Keep us in your prayers xoxo